Ohio Lotto Outlets Dwindle: Wal-Mart Blamed

CLEVELAND (TDB) -- A new state audit of the Ohio Lottery reveals the gambling monopoly paid schools just 29 cents of every dollar it took in, the lowest percentage of ticket sales used to subsidize education in recent history. The audit also reports the lottery's retail base fell to 8,400 outlets ''down from a peak of 9,800" and blamed Wal-Mart.

But it didn't mention the discount retailer by name. It used a euphemism -- ''national big box retailers" -- to describe the disappearance of Ohio's mom and pop shops.

''Many factors in the national and state economy have a direct impact on revenue generation at the Lottery. As smaller retail outlets close, national big box retailers and bulk consumer product warehouse clubs open in their place. Lottery revenues are negatively impacted by this national and statewide trend because these retailers do not consider lottery products as part of their business model. From 2005 through 2006, the Lottery's retail base hit a low point of 8,400 retailers, down from a peak of 9,800 due in part to this trend," the lottery reports.

Another disturbing number shows up in the lengthy document. Operating expenses were $109.8 million, the highest in the past decade. Payments to education were $646.3 million, up slightly from the previous year. But they were way down from 1997, when $748.5 million was turned over to Ohio's schools.

But the worst trend to show up in the audit is that the percentage of total ticket sales going to education -- the pot of money left after expenses -- has started to erode steadily during this decade. In 1997, 32.5% of the total lottery take went to schools; 33% in 1998; 32.5% in 1999; 31.9% in 2000; 33.2% in 2001; 32% in 2002; 30.9% in 2003; 30.4% in 2004; 29.9% in 2005 and 29.1% last year.

As for the outlets selling tickets, the Lottery said it plans to wage a continuing "struggle to maintain its retailer base. As urban sprawl continues and consumer shopping and spending patterns shift, the Lottery is challenged by how to capitalize in a shifting market environment."

Speaker Husted Says Ohio Has 'Diploma Dilemma'

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- House Speaker John Husted is using the phrase "Ohio's Diploma Dilemma" to describe the state's educational conundrums. He emphasizes the fact that high school graduation rates and college admissions are higher than most states, but campus dropouts wreck the stats and harm the prospects of economic growth.

''Our K-12 test scores beat the national averages and those of our Midwestern competitors, we now have a higher high school graduation rate that most states and we outpace the national average in the number of graduates we send to college. But here is where the success story ends because we have fallen behind the rest on the nation in the numbers of students who graduate from college and in the number of college graduates that populate our state,'' Husted told lawmakers in opening the 127th General Assembly. He said lawmakers need to solve ''Ohio's Diploma Dilemma, adding,"More of our citizens must complete certification and degreed programs."

The Republican from Dayton, who faces term limits in 2008, offered three suggestions:

1) ''We must make it easier to earn college credits for students who are still in high school; doing so makes college more affordable and increases the likelihood these students will attend college in Ohio.

2) "We must emphasize science, technology, engineering and math skills, because these are the skills most in demand in the economy and create the best jobs for those who possess them." [Husted wants to create STEM academies across the state. STEM is explored in great detail here at Writes Like She Talks. In fact, it is a primer on the topic.]

3) "I believe by strengthening and investing in cooperative education programs at our 2 and 4-year institutions -- employing students in Ohio businesses while they are still in school -- we make it more likely these students will stay here and be part of Ohio's economic renewal."

Of the three tasks, the first and last sound easiest to accomplish. Husted sounded a bit of urgency, noting that by 2015, nearly 90% of Ohio's jobs will require some kind of post-high school training or certification.